California Baptist University
18-10
UT Rio Grande Valley
16-13
CBU Locks Up Runner-Up WAC Finish
3/7/2019 9:47:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The Lancers used a dominant first half and great defense over all 40 minutes to earn the three-point win over the Vaqueros. CBU held UTRGV to just 34.7 percent shooting from the field (25-for-72) and 29.6 percent from three (8-for-27).
Ane Olaeta played 37 of 40 minutes in the game and put up 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists as a result. Caitlyn Harper totaled 14 points, three blocks and four rebounds for the Lancers, who had seven players with at least six points.
Lexy Ram and Emma Meriggioli both scored nine, with Ram added nine rebounds and four assists and Meriggioli contributed six rebounds. Delacy Brown and Georgia Dale (seven rebounds) added eight points each.
CBU has now won 12 of its last 13 games to improve to 18-10, 11-4 in the WAC. The Vaqueros (16-13, 10-6), who won the first game between the two in Texas (60-56), were the only WAC team who could still catch the Lancers for a share of second place going into the game. The Lancers end the regular season with a WAC game against conference champion NM State (22-6, 14-1) Saturday at 1 p.m.
A big 28-15 advantage in rebounds and offensive efficiency helped CBU take a 42-26 lead in the first half. The Lancers shot 54.8 percent from the floor (17-for-31) and 50 percent from three (4-8) over the first 20 minutes, while holding the Vaqueros to a 27.8 field-goal percentage (10-36).
CBU turned a 5-2 deficit about two-and-a-half minutes into the game into an eight-point lead (21-13) by the end of the first quarter. Olaeta and Thomas scored five and four points, respectively, in that run, while four other Lancers contributed to it.
A 14-6 edge in rebounds has helped CBU take a 21-13 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Lancers already have four offensive boards, this one sets up an Ane Olaeta three.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/pDbZKzdgsZ
— CBU W. Basketball (@CBUwbb) March 8, 2019
The Lancers ran their lead to a game-high 22, 37-15, as they started the second quarter on a 16-2 run. Five CBU players scored in that run, with Olaeta and Harper putting in four each, while Brown and Ram each had a three-pointer.
CBU has a 1⃣2⃣-point lead (25-13) after Ane Olaeta pushes the ball in transition and finds Caitlyn Harper for an easy layup. UTRGV burns a timeout early in the second quarter.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/QNoa30qE2D
— CBU W. Basketball (@CBUwbb) March 8, 2019
While the first half was all CBU, UTRGV owned the second half to make things interesting. The Vaqueros made it a six-point, 58-52 deficit with 8:24 to play, but three-consecutive field goals from CBU gave the Lancers a 64-52 edge with 6:40 remaining.
A big-time 3⃣ from Emma Meriggioli and great hustle play from Delacy Brown helped end a big-time run from UTRGV.
— CBU W. Basketball (@CBUwbb) March 8, 2019
The Vaqueros had made it an eight-point deficit, but the Lancers now go back up 13, 52-39, late in the third quarter.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/jVzv3BHIYr
UTRGV kept pushing and whittled the lead all the way down to three, 66-63, with 34 seconds left. The Vaqueros had the shot at a tie in the end, but great defense from CBU and a key rebound from Dale secured the victory.
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— CBU W. Basketball (@CBUwbb) March 8, 2019
WILD FINISH but CBU holds on for the 66-63 win over UTRGV to lock up second place in the @WACsports in its first season as a conference member.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/lNFlmZTyTm
